Aerial bridge under construction; Wenisch and Bourgeault cut stone contractors sign; steamer exiting harbor through canal; light house on south pier near bridge
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Every student in Duluth learned about the aerial bridge from family or teachers. This table-top model in clay is typical in demonstrating how central to children and families the structure and impact of the bridge was and is to residents of Duluth.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Chicago Shipbuilding Company of Chicago, a subsidiary of the American Shipbuilding Company, built the steamer William E. Cory for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company in 1904. The vessel dimensions are 569' X 56' X 31'. She sailed from Chicago on her maiden voyage August 12, 1905 bound for Duluth to load iron ore. The aerial bridge was new. Bids were opened March 25, 1901, but only one was received. The Duluth Canal Bridge Company was awarded the contract but abandoned the work. In February 1904, the Modern Steel Structural Company of Waukesha, Wisconsin was issued a contract. Work began July 20, 1904. On February 23, 1905, with local dignitaries at hand, the bridge was first operated. Regular service began the next day according to newspaper accounts. The city engineer's report for 1905 stated that the bridge was "completed and commenced operation on May 5, 1905, and a few problems were corrected in running the bridge over the next few days." The Aerial bridge was completed in February 1905. The aerial bridge transporter or gondola or transfer car roadway was 17 feet by 50 feet with sidewalks seven feet by 50 feet, the cabins were 30 feet long. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office building with flag above it was built in 1906. Also visible in the image are the National Biscuit Company 517 Lake Avenue South, Blanchet Hotel 520 Lake Avenue South, and Wieland Flats 502-512 St. Croix Avenue
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Spectators watch log rollers in the bay. The Duluth Boat Club was organized July 10, 1886. The original building was built in 1891 at the foot of Seventh Avenue West and the bay front. This, the second facility, was built in 1906 at 1000 Minnesota Avenue on the harbor side. This was a social center of Duluth but you did have to buy a membership. It had nearly 200 rowboats, canoes, and a flotilla of sailboats. Duluth rowers won 20 national championships between 1911 and 1923, as well as hosting the national races in 1916. The club dissolved in 1926 due to flagging interest and debt.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Duluth Boat Club was organized July 10, 1886. The original building was built in 1891 at the foot of Seventh Avenue West and the bay front. This, the second facility, was built in 1906 at 1000 Minnesota Avenue on the harbor side. This was a social center of Duluth but you did have to buy a membership. It had nearly 200 rowboats, canoes, and a flotilla of sailboats. Duluth rowers won 20 national championships between 1911 and 1923, as well as hosting the national races in 1916. The club dissolved in 1926 due to flagging interest and debt.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Passenger steamer North American of the Georgian Bay Line is steaming out of Duluth harbor leaving Duluth. There were many passenger ships and companies used similar names. This vessel had a partner named the South American; both were built in 1913. The Great Lakes is one of the oldest, yet one of the newest cruise destinations. Cruises were being taken as early as 1842, yet the industry had almost disappeared 100 years later. Railroads bought and built steamship lines to compliment railroad services. Some activity continued into the 1960s, but following the departure of the South American in 1966, cruising effectively ceased for thirty years. Houses on Minnesota Point are at the left. The Aerial Bridge gondola or basket transporter is visible behind the stern. These lamp posts on the piers remained until about 1955. This is a print made from a broken glass plate negative: the bottom right corner is missing (black). The photographer's negative number is cut off, only the beginning of his name shows "McK."
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Every student in Duluth learned about the Aerial Bridge from family or teachers. This table-top model in clay is typical in demonstrating how central to children and families the structure and impact of the bridge was and is to residents of Duluth.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Set of 37 sheets of architectural drawings accepted for the City of Duluth by Samuel F. Snively, Mayor, and John Wilson, City Engineer, Plans Accompanying Specifications of January 1929. Technical drawings with varying degrees of legibility. There is only one elevation in the set; Sheet 1. The original bridge was the Aerial Bridge constructed in 1904-1905. The bridge was modified in 1929 with a lift span and subsequently called the Aerial Lift Bridge. These plans are highly technical and were designed for the use of engineers and specialty contractors. Each drawing indicates that certain features of the structure have been revised. This set appears to represent the final revision. The Lift Bridge was designed by Harrington, Howard and Ash Consulting Engineers, Kansas City and New York. Patented in the United States from 1909-1925.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Small post card of the aerial lift bridge with the span up and an outbound lake vessel in the canal. On Monday, July 1, 1929, the suspended car made its last trip across the canal. The bridge's modification to operate with a lift span began on April 8, 1929, with a low bid of $448,000 by the Kansas City Bridge Company. The Aerial Lift Bridge was first operated on March 19, 1930. During the shipping season it makes about 25 lifts a day.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Company launches including one named Prairie State. During WWII, the company installed the piping in 30 vessels built by Zenith Dredge company of Duluth. A tugboat (tug) is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal, or those that cannot move themselves alone, such as barges or disabled ships. The company was located at Eleventh Avenue West and bayfront. The company became Modern Constructors, Marine Iron and Shipbuilding in 1954. Today, Marine Iron and Shipbuilding is at 325 South Lake Avenue and Waterfront Plaza Building. Above the tug on the left, just above the tug's name, is the two story brick Webster elementary school at 433 South First Avenue East in Canal Park. It was built in 1897 and razed in 1930. It was named for Daniel Webster who, as Secretary of State, negotiated the Webster-Ashburton Treaty that established the definitive eastern border between the United States and Canada.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This is the lower side of Superior street between Third Avenue West on the left and approaching Fourth Avenue West on the right. The buildings left to right are Lonsdale at 300, Alworth at 306-308, Siewart's 310, Irving Moore Memorial 312, Torrey 314-316, St. Louis Hotel 318. If we could see a little further toward Fourth the Providence building would be near the corner. The St. Louis hotel was razed and the Medical Arts building constructed in its place in 1932.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of the Aerial Lift Bridge with lift span raised to allow the William B. Schiller to leave the harbor. Built in 1910, the Schiller was laid up in 1974 and sold for scrap in 1978.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Unidentified vessel and crew leave the Duluth harbor. They will pass under the raised lift span of the bridge in calm water. Minnesota Point is at the right with homes visible on Minnesota Avenue. The 6-foot tall lighthouse at the right is 107-years old. It was offered for sale in August 2008 by the federal government with limitations. Its formal name is South Breakwater Inner Light Tower and was owned by the federal government. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The towers light was first lit in 1901. It was bought in December 2008 by Steve Sola and Matt Kampf of Duluth. Their winning bid was more than $31,000. Mr. Sola grew up on Park Point, Kamps in Hibbing, but lived many years on Cape Cod before moving to Duluth. In an interview the men said they didn't know what they were going to do with it. The federal authorities will not allow the structure to be relocated.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Two unidentified men hold a copy of a national magazine whose cover features the Aerial Bridge. These men are probably with the Chamber of Commerce. The June 14, 1947, Saturday Evening Post cover of Duluth Aerial Bridge with boat is by John Atherton. John Carlton Atherton was born in Brainerd, Minnesota, on June 7, 1900. Atherton would eventually illustrate over forty covers for Saturday Evening Post, starting with his December 1942 design, Patient Dog. In the late 1940s, Albert Dorne, fellow Saturday Evening Post illustrator, founded the Famous Artists School, an institution to teach the art of correspondence illustration. John Atherton was among the famous artists such as Al Parker, Jon Witcomb, and Norman Rockwell, who contributed to the program. Atherton eventually moved to Arlington, Vermont. The famous illustrator and artist died at age fifty-two (in 1952) in a drowning accident while fly-fishing in New Brunswick, Canada. He was survived by his wife, Maxine Breeze.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
139-D The caption of this post card says The unique Aerial Lift Bridge and Ship Canal Entrance to Duluth-Superior Harbor is an outstanding attraction of this popular summer vacation city. Total bridge load lifted is 900 tons. Only 55 seconds are required to lift the span 135 feet. The Harbor is second only to that of New York City in shipping tonnage and through it passes about 60 per cent of America's iron ore production, from the great iron ore ranges just north of Duluth. Another fact, not included in the caption is that John H. Darling (1847-1942), U.S. Engineer for Duluth-Superior Harbor, oversaw replacement of the original wooden canal piers with concrete piers in 1897. The piers have been maintained and repaired with a major remodeling/rehabilitation in 1985-1986.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections